Nong’s Khao Man Gai

I was SO happy when I finally found this food cart. My boyfriend and I explored this food pod right before heading to the airport and after reading so many reviews and which food carts to try in Portland, this was one on top of my list! Got their Chicken and Rice dish (8.95) handed to me wrapped up in parchment paper along with a cute little paper bag and wintermelon soup to eat next to my car. I actually don’t think I would find it super appealing from the get-​go, but after eating a few pieces of tender, juicy chicken with the rice and garlic ginger sauce together, I was in heaven!
It’s definitely worth coming here once and trying the most popular food cart in Portland. Also there doesn’t seem to be a long wait either! I was able to walk straight up to the window and order. Service was super fast and friendly :)

First eats in Portland!
Very excited to come to the blocks of food trucks, and when looking around, this place looked so simple, my natural curiosity just had to taste why and how. The packaging is just so cute, with a little paper bag, while paper packaging, and sealed together with a rubber band. Yes, that’s right, even the packaging is simple, lol! I was very very excited until I tasted the soup… Nothing special and really salty. That really needs work. But then I tasted the chicken and rice with a perfect amount of sauce… Wow. Simplicity at its finest! The chicken is soft and juicy, the rice is plump and moist yet firm, and the sauce is a delicious balance of sweet, savory, and spicy. Not to mention the few pieces of cucumber and cilantro adding the crunch and freshness… Really takes it a notch up. If there wasn’t so many places to try with the little time I’m here, I would def. head back again! Be on the lookout for my next review in Portland!

The Portland food truck scene is as famous as any in the country and the impressive collection of food trucks, especially near SW Adler and 10^th are a must visit if simply to partake in the variety of cuisine, the vibe of the scene, and the tastes of the food.
At the top of the heap, Nong’s Khao Man Gi is probably the most well known serving the popular chicken and rice dish from her Thai homeland. It’s a touch different than the more well known Hainan rice popular in China or Singapore but has more similarities than differences.
Free range organic chicken anchors the dish and helps make both the soup broth served on the side and the fragrant rice. It’s served with a fermented soy bean sauce with ginger and scallions that is a great dipping condiment.
Khao Man Gi — $ 13. Large. The large portion included chicken liver and plentiful white and dark meat. The chicken is tender and flavorful but a bit under seasoned compared to other chicken rice renditions I’ve had. Of course, that’s where the sauce comes in and it helps greatly as does the piping hot soup broth. I ordered another pint of the soup broth to go.
Overall, Nong’s didn’t disappoint. I love chicken and rice, especially Hainan style and it’s tough to find great renditions on the West Coast. I’m happy to have it food truck style like the food hawkers in Singapore and a quality version at that. In fact, she’s done so well as to sell her dipping sauce, compete on Chopped, and open a food truck inspired restaurant or two.
Nong’s accepts credit cards and Amex.

This place lost a star because of bad customer service. I went to the food truck one in downtown Portland instead of the restaurant. The guy that was working there on Memorial Day morning as soon as they opened did not act like he wanted to be there at all or he may have woken up on the wrong side of the bed. He was rude talking to his customers without looking at them in the eye. He looked so disinterested. Because he was on the phone and doing his own business while trying to do his job, he lost focus and accused my friend of getting an order without paying. Excuse me but we don’t need to go that low to get some chicken rice.
Anyways, here is my review about the food itself. The chicken rice was really good… very authentic. I loved that it was wrap in paper for takeout because it reminds me of my nostalgic childhood in SE Asia. The soup that comes with the rice tasted just like the winter melon soup that my grandma used to make. I think I had tears rolling down my cheek as I devoured that rice packet in less than 5 mins as we sunbathed at the park in downtown Portland.

I watched the Chopped episode that Nong was in, so I was excited to try out the khao man gai. I love the packaging of the food. The chicken and rice were wrapped within white wax parchment paper and there was another small container for some light broth.
The chicken’s so juicy and tender, while the rice’s so tasty. I actually added the rice into the broth and ate it together. Even though I’m not a fan of spicy sauces, I definitely think the garlicky ginger sauce added a lot of flavor to the otherwise tasteless chicken. The Thai ice tea’s also pretty good and creamy, but a tad on the sweeter side.
Overall, a great first meal for my first time in Portland.

It’s tender chicken.
It’s rice.
It’s spicy, tasty sauce.
It’s fresh cucumbers and cilantro.
It’s packaged in parchment paper.
It’s still just tender chicken, rice with spicy, tasty sauce and fresh green stuff served wrapped in parchment paper with a side of broth-​like soup .
I had to try it based on the reviews but I don’t consider my life changed because of it.

My boyfriend and I are staying at the Westin in downtown Portland, so when we searched Unilocal to find a spot for lunch this place came up. After reading the great reviews we decided to try it out. Basically the food was tasteful, but because the service we received was horrible, we will not be returning here or recommending this place to anyone.
Let me explain what happened… My boyfriend was wearing his Warriors shirt & when we reached the cashier he greeted us by saying «Really bro? You’re wearing that shirt here?» and my boyfriend said «Yeah man… I’m from the bay and they’re playing tonight.» From then on, the cashier stayed silent. Being it was our first time in Portland, we had never heard about this food truck, and had some questions about the menu. He did not answer any of our questions about the menu, and after paying him, he slammed our change and food onto the counter rather than handing it to us.
I get that some people take professional sports to heart, but really… it shouldn’t be carried into the workplace when you’re dealing with customers. We will not be returning here, and the food wasn’t anything worth going out of our way for, especially with service like that.

I think it’s the sauce that puts it over the edge, if you want to know the truth. I mean, sure, you’ve got some really tender chicken that was super moist. Don’t discount that. And yes, you’ve definitely got something serious going on when you combine it with the rice. But when you add those things together, you get a really clean meal, but not the juggernaut that is Nong’s.
No, you have to add the sauce. That brings everything together.
Did you have a group of friends at some point in your life? And you thought you’d be friends forever and nothing would keep you apart? And then one of them moved away – maybe it was even you – and the whole group sorta drifted apart? Every group, every team, every organization has its bonds and its bonders. And the sauce is the bonder that brings this whole happy group of rice/​chicken/​cucumber together. May they stay together until death do they part.

My husband pulled out his chicken and rice from the recyclable brown bag with a puzzled look on his face. He pulls out a wad of white wax paper. He carefully unwraps it and finds his chicken & rice! In a separate container, he found some soy sauce and chicken broth. It was a creative way to serve their food & environmentally friendly! The chicken was a little dry but all the ingredients were very fresh and complimented each other well.

Nong’s…thinking it was all hype, we had to give it a try. I mean, it’s just a food truck, how good could it possibly be? We picked up some chicken and sticky rice and went off to another restaurant, where even the waitress said, «is that nong’s? Yum.» Ok, this better be good, now!
Well I have to admit, possibly the best sticky rice ever!!! Chicken was tender, perfectly cooked, pretty amazing. It was good, it didn’t necessarily blow me away, but nong’s is good in my book. One of the better food trucks in this food truck mall. If you’re in Portland and need a quick bite to eat, granted there isn’t a long line. I definitely recommend nong’s.

Read article about this place and was excited to try it out. Totally exceeded my expectations! Came in a simple wrapped package of white paper. Everything was super fresh and super flavorful. The soup was hot and cleansing either the heavy strong sauce. The chicken was moist and cooked perfectly.

I like how the chicken and rice here is simple and clean. The soup is simple and clean, too. This is great for days when you want something simple clean, like the day after a juice cleanse. This is not for those days when you are super hungry, I guess also like the day after a juice cleanse.
1 star off: It’s just boiled chicken and rice, people.

I was skeptical. It’s poached chicken and rice, after all. But really, it’s more than that.
This is an incredibly moist, succulent chicken breast packed with subtle flavor that isn’t overwhelming. The rice is the perfect accompaniment, and I’m a sucker for sticky rice. I loved adding the chilies for a bit of kick. I wasn’t a fan of the sauce, but I am not a ginger/​slightly sweet sauce type of person. To be honest, this dish doesn’t even need it.
If I was sick, the broth served alongside it would be all I really needed.
These guys are also really on top of their game. The packaging is easy to carry, won’t spill, and is instantly ready. While eating out of butcher paper was a bit weird, it worked.
I would highly recommend this food stand.

I mean… It’s good, but would I go out of my way to eat it again despite all other great eats in Portland? Probs not. Pretty surprised by the high rating of the place. Friendly service and good execution on the food, but I was not wow’d.

I was in Portland for about 2 days (1 day in Salem). Why did I come here twice?
Well, one at the food stands, and the other at the restaurant. I’ll review the other one separately.
This stand was cute as a button. Tiny little thing. Luckily, I was there on a weekday early in the morning. No line! This was on my 2^nd visit, btw, and the 1^st visit I couldn’t get the chicken skin. They were sold out by the time I arrived at the restaurant. WELL, guess who got some on their second try?! THIS GAL! Oh, and I totally took 3 bags. I mean, when am I coming back? Not for awhile!
On this visit, I bought the big plate piset, All that chicken and even got the liver just to try it out! So frikkin delicious! I cant contain myself! I want some more! I’m craving bad. So simple, yet so good!
Its that sauce and the broth that’s slightly soaked in the rice. Nothing overwhelming, but has a great taste to it! The chicken is super tender and juicy. Same goes for the liver. The skin were all small for the on the go type to just munch on. So bad, but sooo good.
So if you’re in Portland or planning to go, TRY THIS PLACE OUT! k? :)

The infamous Chicken and rice dish at Nong’s was one of the first spots to receive a bookmark. Portland is quickly becoming famous for it’s foodie culture, and places like Nong’s only perpetuate that reputation.
Their signature dish is simple: chicken, rice, and sauce. The elusive chicken skin is only available for the first hour before they usually sell out. The sauce is what really makes everything special. The blend of ginger, chili, and sweetness make this a universal sauce for just about anything.
It seems the original owner doesn’t cook up the food anymore, instead they’ve replaced her with some hipsters. Still delivered the goods, but was hoping to see that OG Thai lady in action.
⁴⁄₅ would bang again

So I’ve been reading up on Portland’s food offerings and I spoke to a foodie friend who visited Portland a few months before my scheduled trip and they all mentioned Nong’s Khao Man Gai.
Saved the address and was walking back and forth looking for the address before I realized it was a food truck! Everyone referred to it as a restaurant. I can’t believe nobody tried to give me a heads up that this is a food truck!
So discovered later that they don’t really consider these establishments a «food truck»: Locals call them «food carts» and are considered restaurants because they are pretty much permanent and not mobile like a «food truck».
So Nong’s Khao Man Gai is one of dozens of food carts permanently situated on a lot across the street from Portland University. This is one of many Nong’s Khao Man Gai scattered in the downtown area. AND this is only one of the lots fully occupied by a plethora of food carts in the city.
Ordered the Classic Chicken. Of course.
So it comes with a fragrant and perfectly cooked Jasmine Rice wrapped separately on a piece of paper. Don’t worry, it’s a lined food grade paper. Perfectly cooked chicken is sitting right on top. Sauce is on the side. A cup of soup and cucumber slices are included.
How nice that they provided instructions on how to eat:
1. Unwrap the food — and you cradle this on your hand and use it as a plate.
2. Pour some sauce and take a bite
3. Take a bite of that cucumber
4. Sip that soup.
The Vegetarian Dish is very surprisingly tasty. I think it was cooked in some sort of savory broth. I would totally order this again.

Danny’s Unilocal 2016.
$ 8.75 for some Chicken & Rice that’s wrapped in a piece of paper sounds weird but. the hype is real. If you’re vietnamese, think of Com Ga Hai Nam. It’s pretty much the same concept. Jasmine rice, topped with boiled chicken, with their special ginger sauce also with broth on the side.
Notes:
+ This is a food cart. No seatings = find a spot.
Conclusion: I would highly recommend this spot anyone who’s visiting Portland. The chicken & rice sounds so simple yet it was so good.
See you soon, Portland!

Let me start off by saying that I lived in Thailand for a decade. Khao Man Gai is one of my favorite dishes and I know what authentic and GOOD Khao Man Gai should taste like. I was visiting PDX and this food stand was literally my first stop.
I got 2 orders — one standard and the other with chicken liver. The rice was packed just like in Thailand, which I thought was a good sign. When I opened my ‘pack’ I was surprised… all white meat, no skin… WHERE WAS THE SKIN?! In Thailand, the skin is always left on UNLESS you tell them to take it off. I thought the chicken was dry, the rice lacked ‘MAN GAI’ (chicken fat), the soup was ok, and the sauce was missing spice.
Really not sure what the hype is about.

I MISS PORTLAND, my heart hurts (well and my stomach) as I write this review because it was so mind blowing I can still imagine the taste of that chicken when I was eating it. This was a big deal for me for a variety of reasons.
1. Portland is food cart central.
2. I love chicken and rice.
3. This was a top rated, top booked, and highly recommended on Unilocal.
I had to stop by, so I made that trek to downtown food cart central and found myself in a VERY SHORT line (beating the lunch rush at about 1:30pm). There was 2 in front of me, but I mean you can’t miss the cart. There’s a huge sign and a huge crowd and you can hear them yelling orders from afar.
The menu is simple as day. I love #2 because it’s the larger version with all the fixin’s liver and heart and blood and all. You can’t skimp on that. The chicken itself was very well portioned, enough to share with two people all stacked so professionally over a mountain of rice. I was SO BUMMED that I couldn’t get the fried chicken skin because I guess that’s the trade off (short line, no chicken skins). So disappointed, but the flavors and food did not disappoint. It also comes with soup on the side and a special dipping sauce that I wasn’t really a fan of. It’s also topped with cucumber and cilantro (gotta have your veggies). It was a complete meal.
The togo back is so cute, I mean you have to see the pictures! Almost too cute to eat, but it’s very environmentally friendly. It’s definitely a place to make a pitstop at when you’re in town. If you want them to skip on the gizzards, hearts, and etc let them know (but they usually ask). I have to come back and get them fried chicken skinzzzzzzz with my rice!